This is Ron with your Motivational Message:
MORE TO COME! Stay tuned for Ron’s Newest Painting!
This is Ron with your Motivational Message:
MORE TO COME! Stay tuned for Ron’s Newest Painting!
This is Ron with your motivational message:
Ed is one of those guys that when you meet him you like him instantly. Who would have known that my buddy would pass so swiftly. He was the major brains and ingenuity behind the quad squad. He was the guy that would fix things and not complain. Ed could take care of just about anything. Of course he had a car that was similar. But it was a 67’ yellow Camaro, with a corvette motor and 4,000 watts stereo. “That’s the one I want to drive.” I told him. The 68’ firebird belonged to a friend named Ron Phillips. It was he who developed the Quad Squad team which included Ed. I remembered the first time I drove the firebird, I had not seen Ed show much emotion. He was kind of a man’s man. But Ed actually grabbed my head and kissed me on the cheek out of excitement. He was proud to be a part of allowing a quadriplegic to drive for the first time. It was probably historically the first time somebody had driven a 67’ firebird with just the use of his teeth and head. I had a slight fender bender you might say, shortly after I successfully completed 2 laps around the track and topped out at 52 miles an hour. I ended the show in front of a few thousand people with a nice smoking burn out. Full of adrenaline and excitement I decided to take my family for a nice little drive around the parking lot.
It was there we had a mechanical error, I couldn’t apply the brakes. Time seemed to slow as I proceeded to crash into a red shiny sports car and no way to stop it. On top of wrecking the vehicle, it was also among the owner’s favorite. I did about five thousand dollars worth of damage and when it was all said and done it cost about ten thousand dollars to repair. Everyone went home with their tail between their legs, I felt terrible and so did Ed.
Soon after, Ed decided to come to my house from Portland to cheer me up and to hang out for a little inspiration himself. He reminded me that it was the ‘Hope Rod’ and the message behind the impossible- that all could do impossible things. Especially those wounded, young warriors coming home from recent wars. Ed encouraged me to continue on, and insured me that mechanically; there wouldn’t be the flaw I experience with no brakes. Because of Ed I ventured out on a flat desert in eastern Oregon. The dried up lake bed was located southeast of the Steens Mountain. The Alvord desert was like talcum powder and completely flat for miles. It only received about 7 inches of rain annually. The quad squad renewed their excitement and I said I was up for the task. My goal in the desert was to go 100 miles per hour. Long story short we completed the goal. It was an amazing feeling, empowering and energizing.
After completing the goal I realized that this was the last time I was going to get the opportunity to independently operate a car by myself. I decided to do something that was probably extremely dangerous to most. But I had decided to drive alone and my Squad dreadfully disagreed with my choice. It gave me feeling of freedom that most of us take for granted. I exceeded my original goal by 1-going 101 mph alone in the desert with my team and family behind me. It was a very powerful moment.
After all of the excitement of driving alone, I proceeded to do some ‘S’ Shapes with the car to further prove my unique ability to control the vehicle. In my last turn on a hard right my knee flopped over from the door to the steering wheel. It immediately jammed my leg under the steering wheel grinding a blister on my skin. Looking as though my leg would snap, I yelled dreadfully through the speaker phone attached to the squad on the other end to shut her down. The motor died instantly as they pushed the remote control switch. Not knowing what they would find, the forgiving dudes on the squad laughed as they moved my leg. I slowly drove it back, feeling once again on cloud nine. We were all elated about the event of the day, until that evening when I got home. My buddy asked my unaware wife if she would like to see the video. Sitting down, she thought she would be watch her husband driving with all precautions particularly after my crash. To my udder dismay, we watched the solo drive and my friend had put in the wrong tape. With lack of words to describe my wife’s reaction, let’s just say my consequence was worse than the crash that I had experienced on the first drive.
Ed showed some signs of illness shortly after we completed the 100 mph in the Alvord desert. Ed had lung cancer and it was serious. I visited him a few times in Portland, and he came to see me speak once. Each time I saw my friend, he was fading. The picture I share was two days before he passed. He made himself get out of bed in order to give me a hug. He loved me and I loved him. If it wasn’t for Ed I wouldn’t have completed the task. If it wasn’t for his inspirations I wouldn’t have driven the car that gave hope to thousands. That life is short so live it. Do your dream, and love your brother. Work as a team, and always complete the mission.
Ed, I thank you for being a brother and a friend. I miss you Ed and I am grateful for all of you friends that are still alive.
To your inspiration,
RON
This is Ron with your motivational message,
I recently received an email from a gentleman where he told me that my book had made a huge impact. He read it when he was twenty years old and now his daughter reads it. I share this email today as it correlates with my recent Mouth painting of the Oregon Ducks, not the college team. I was inspired by a friend who said, “You should paint a duck butt.” Laughingly I said, “Why would I do that?” Interestingly enough I did the picture. Duck butt, a baby face, and a flower, all of which are reflected in the water. I guess we can call it a butt face flower reflection! All joking aside; the mother in this oil art piece naturally teaches her offspring the valuable lessons on survival. Her reflections resemble the lessons for her ducklings, her family. I know at times it’s crazy trying to raise 2 girls as a single dad. I wonder if they see more “rear end” reflecting, rather than teaching them to fish for their survival. My heart is to instill a healthy positive attitude in my young ladies. I hope and pray that they will see a positive mental attitude in the midst of my blunders. Being a parent is not an easy job, without our guidance, we leave them vulnerable to danger.
“How is my life reflecting for the future survival of our children?”
Was a question that came to me as I painted, and then I received this email.
“Hi Ron my name is Mathew I read your book when I was 20. I loved it. I am now 42, married and have 5 kids. “It was the first of a motivational series, my favorite books on the shelf.” One day my 8 year old daughter saw the book and asked, “What is this is about?” Not only did she read it, we discussed it together. The book was the turnaround for our attitude problems. We wake up and say, “It’s not a bad day.” My daughter is now 14 and actually had your book out tonight, as she shared with her friends. How this dude never gave up. Thanks for the impact you have had on me and my family for the last 22 years.”
Let’s ask ourselves today what part of our rear end flower face do people see?
There is nothing more satisfying then hearing encouraging words from others.
Lord,
May our lives reflect faith, hope and love.
May we be filled with peace, patience, goodness and kindness.
Amen.
To your inspiration,
Ron
This is Ron with your Motivational Message:
In shock and dismay I yelled, “You just killed my mom’s favorite rooster!”
I’m not sure if you’ve ever experienced a moment when something went wrong and left you feeling heartbroken, numb, and searching for an explanation—a “what just happened?” moment. My mother, Theresa, as you may have read before, loved animals. She was particularly fond of one rooster. I could understand the love she had for that bird because I watched her raise it from a chick. It befriended her and would follow her around much like a pet dog would. He was black and red with shimmering, brightly colored tail feathers. He also had a bad attitude. I was afraid of that rooster. There had been several times while I was in my wheelchair that he would sneak up from behind and spur the back of the chair.
One day I was in my yard next door to Mom’s working with a young man named Hal. As Hal went about his business, unbeknownst to him the rooster had approached. Mom’s wild bird went into attack mode and began scratching him mercilessly. I hate to say it, but it was hilarious to watch Hal flail and scream like a girl. As a means of protection, Hal picked up a small stone and threw it in the direction of the ferocious rooster. It hit him square in the head and he fell over.
Dead! My mom’s beloved rooster was dead and I was responsible. Hal tried unsuccessfully to revive the bird, doing everything except mouth-to-beak resuscitation. Nothing worked and I accepted the blame. I had Hal place the rooster in a nice box and we went next door to break the news to Mom. As expected, she broke into tears and cradled the bird in her arms. I was surprised by the love she had for that little creature. The next day Hal arrived with a tiny, new rooster chick to console my mother and alleviate his guilt. It worked–my mom was in love again.
I believe there is still a cross that stands where the rooster is buried. The memory of that day remains so vivid. Although he was not too fond of me, I do miss that bird. So, here I am 28 years later painting a rooster because of this story and the adoration I see others have for their chickens. Accidents are unavoidable in life. All you can do is do your best to make it right, admit to your shortcomings, realize that you are human, and with that will come forgiveness. The rooster will live on.
To your inspiration,
Ron
This is Ron with your Motivational Message:
“I heard the ping,” said my surgeon as she cut the stitch deep inside my eye.
It has been three weeks since my two hour eye surgery, however, my memory is very clear and crisp from that day. I had been conscious during the operation with my eyes open, but thanks to pre-procedure medication I was hardly bothered. They could have cut off my leg and slapped me with it and I wouldn’t have been the wiser. This week I had to return because my vision had not yet recovered.
My head was strapped down to impede any unwanted movement. I gazed intently into the fuzzy red glow coming from the laser machine. It felt very awkward to be restrained in such a way, particularly with the strap around my chest to keep me in my chair, but it was necessary to focus the laser beam on the back of my eye. I wondered how long it will take as my surgeon said, “hold your breath.” Suddenly there was a “pop” inside my eye. She stopped and asked, “Did you hear the ping? That’s the sound of the laser cutting the suture.” I had more than 200 stitches in my eye and some of them had been pulling tight. “It’s making your eyeball shaped more like an egg than a sphere and the tension is causing your vision to blur.”
As I tipped my bowl of coffee to my mouth first thing this morning, I realized what a blessing it was not only to still have my eyesight, but also to have people in my life that I can trust. You can imagine, there is great anxiety related to putting your vision (and livelihood, for that matter) in the hands of a surgeon. We put our faith and confidence in people everyday sometimes without doing a little investigating beforehand. As a result, we may find ourselves in a compromising situation which creates a fear and a possible lack of trust.
The eye is a vital organ and as a quadriplegic mouth-painter I rely very heavily on my vision and spend much of my time only 10 inches from my canvas. I would not have given my eyes to just anyone. I did my research on Dr. Edmunds and only could find good things. Thanks to her, my glaucoma is beginning to dissipate and my eyes are healing nicely.
I am reminded of all those who assist me and I want to thank my friends, who support what I do and pray for me, especially those who feed me and get me in and out of bed. I am grateful for all the people whom I can trust; that are reliable and dedicated to doing their best. Yet, I also offer grace to those who have let me down, for God knows how many people I have let down.
Let’s take a moment together to reflect on the people we trust. People who are faithful, trustworthy, and supportive. Let’s show them an attitude of gratitude because their life makes the “ping!” Like a bullet striking the target or a laser cutting the stitch–it’s the ping that makes the difference.
To your inspiration,
Ron
This is Ron with your Motivational Message:
As I worked on my newest painting, I couldn’t help but admire the adaptability and resilience of the emperor penguin. They spend their lives in frigid temperatures, traveling as much as 300 miles from their colony in search of food, watching carefully for predators. Despite this, they manage to thrive, raise their young, and even seem to have moments of happiness.
Webster’s Dictionary defines “resilience” as “an ability to recover from or adjust to misfortune or change.” The emperor penguin certainly experiences setbacks and hardships, but is able to adjust. Whether it be a drastic dip in temperature, losing a chick, or being unable to find food close by, they continue to fight for survival and press onward.
Click here to view my newest painting and hear a short motivational message:
If you have difficulty loading the video, please visit: https://youtu.be/ZB_brYTe3kM
To your inspiration,
Ron
This is Ron with your Motivational Message:
As I sit painting a picture representing the bond between a parent and a child, I was reminded of my own childhood. Although my parents fought a lot I still felt the stability of our family. It was their encouragement, love and support that gave me the tools to become successful as a quadriplegic.
As a speaker for public schools, I have encountered many young people and their struggles. I have found that instability at home (if they even have a home) is the number one contributor to poor self-esteem and negative attitude. None of the young people I’ve spoken with have ever said, “I can’t stand the fact that I have loving parents who support and nurture me.”
You may have a different story, but my encouragement comes through the face of the baby giraffe who has just learned to support itself on its four wobbly legs. The eyes reflect “I can do anything. Today I believe I can run, jump, and play.”
Through my blogs I hope to be the nudge, the word, the brother that says “Yes, you can reach out and take on your challenges. You are supported.”
May the picture inspire you to nudge, support and show tenderness.
To your inspiration,
Ron
Happy Easter–He Has Risen!
This is Ron with your Motivational Message:
Memories of Easter egg hunts, spring chicks, and tulips flood my mind as I recall Easters of the past. One particular Easter stands out from the rest. That morning my dad woke me up at sunrise to take a hike to the top of a nearby hill where a few rugged crosses stood. He told me many people had made the trek just to witness the sign of Christ. I murmured under my breath, “I won’t be one of them; this is too early for me.”
Exhausted from the climb, we sat on two rocks and gazed across the eastern sky; it was a powerful and breathtaking moment. As the sun moved through the sky, the shadows cast by the crosses moved across the two of us. I must say, without ever experiencing the Gotha in Israel where Christ actually died, this was intense. Another gentleman who had accompanied us closed our time by reading a portion of the Bible that spoke of Jesus’ resurrection. “He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay.” Matthew 28:6
I recalled the pastor once saying, “We still have an empty tomb and either Christ was a liar, lunatic, or He was the risen Lord.” My faith was restored and I, now as a quadriplegic, look forward to my own new body in Heaven.
A new life, for the most part, is greatly celebrated: babies, buds on trees, hatching chicks, wobbly new calves, spring flowers. They all energize me at this time of year, even more so with the early spring that we are having here in Oregon. I wonder, as we celebrate the resurrection of Christ and new life, that we could focus on the future and put the past behind us. Take a breath of fresh air and the excitement it brings.
Face tomorrow without regrets. As the pain and the sorrow may have lasted through the night, the joy came in the morning. Let’s rise up and take our new day with youthful courage, vitality and a fresh perspective. I hope you enjoyed the spring chick I painted as well as the three wooden crosses. May you and your family have a most glorious Easter.
To your inspiration,
Ron
This is Ron with your Motivational Message:
“Mr. Heagy, you’re glaucoma has worsened. The pressure in your left eye is over 40 and we don’t like to see it over 10. You need to see a surgeon.”
As most of you know, 35 years ago my head struck a sand bar that resulted in a spinal cord injury. A few years later I also developed glaucoma. Glaucoma can be explained as a drainage problem in my eye. Blockage creates pressure that tears the optic nerve from the back of the eye. Being paralyzed with no use of my hands, my eyesight has taken on a significant duty. I love gazing upon all God’s creations, from nature to people, and my eyesight is the key to my artwork. It’s something that I don’t take for granted and am truly grateful to have. Although I’m sure I could find the strength to endure the loss, it would affect my life greatly.
As the laser beam shot through my retina and into the back of my eye, I could feel the pops as she triggered the laser cuts, 80 of them in total. It’s hard to hold your head still for a prolonged period of time, particularly when a laser is pointed directly at your eye. The laser did lower my pressure, but not significantly. I am now at a pressure of about 25, still too high to be considered a success. I am scheduled to repeat the laser process in three weeks and ask for your prayers. I would like to avoid optical surgery which entails cutting into my eye and putting new “drain lines” in. That is a serious surgery with a lot of risks involved. To be honest with you, it is a bit scary for me.
What I’ve done to overcome the nerves is to wake up each day and thank God for the wonders of the working eye. I look at my daughters differently; appreciating the details of their beautiful faces. Spring flowers appear more bright and colorful. I appreciate seeing the wonderful people in my life: friends, family, and caregivers.
I realize I have taken my eyesight for granted in the past, but have vowed to remain thankful for what I’ve been afforded. Please remember me every time you see something naturally beautiful. When something makes you say, “Wow!” say a little prayer for me. I have many more pictures to paint, places to go, sunsets to see. I can see your smile as you think of me. Likewise, please let me know how I can pray for you.
A thought for the day: let’s not forget to be grateful for everything in life. It’s too easy to see the negative. Let’s take our eyes and look for something positive.
To your inspiration,
Ron
Giving sight to my shark.
This is Ron with your Motivational Message:
It’s hard to believe that 35 years ago God intervened in my life. As I floated lifeless in the surf, my brother pulled me to the surface and saved my life. I had been spared and ultimately had been given the opportunity to share my story with you today. I had been told, as a result of my high level of injury that my life expectancy was between 10 and 17 years. By the grace of God, the doctors were wrong and I have survived their life expectancy two-fold! My friend, Chris, asked me today if I remember that dramatic moment my life changed forever. I responded with, “It seems like yesterday, but another life ago.”
I have been through a great deal, have endured serious challenges, accomplished amazing things, experienced highs and lows. Do I have any regrets? The only one that comes to mind is I wish I had loved others more. I would like to take this time to thank you, my friend, for being in my life, praying and supporting all those things I do. I hope you have enjoyed the passion I have for my art. I look forward to living another 15 years in my chair–I have a lot of work to do! Be strong, have faith, and fight the good fight.
To your inspiration,
Ron
This is Ron with your Motivational Message:
I was suffering from a lack of confidence. You know, the situation when you commit to something and later ask “What was I thinking?”
A few years ago I took the girls to a concert at LaSells Stewart Center on the Oregon State Campus. It was held in their large amphitheater where we sat in the front row next to some very accommodating people. I was taken by the acoustics as the instruments’ tones blended with the voices creating an inspiring listening experience. Wow, what a great place this would be to present, I thought. Little did I know that my daydream of performing on that stage would come true.
I slowly nudged my chin-controlled chair onto the large, magnificent stage with a few hundred teens waiting in eager anticipation. I had been granted the keynote address for the Teen Summit and boy, did I take advantage of the incredible setting. The sound effects that I could make were great; it was truly enjoyable.
As I shared, the kids laughed and cried. For an emotionless guy, it was a moving experience, to say the least. I imparted to them my thoughts on positive outlooks: your attitude determines your direction. Keep the faith and stay focused in spite of the negative that bombards us daily. We can change things to ignite the positive.
So what did I fear, you ask? It was what followed the speech: a workshop. Ron Heagy was scheduled to teach 25 teens how to paint a picture in one hour. This was way out of my comfort zone. Even though I had agreed to the workshop, I felt like maybe it wasn’t such a good idea, after all.
However, thanks to my team, Ashley and Ann, I was able to overcome my doubts and ultimately found the experience to be exhilarating, particularly after seeing the students’ finished product. Through art, there are things that can be revealed about a person that you would have not been able to see with your eyes. I saw an inner beauty expressed through their creations. It all just happened to reinforce my speech. Many of them had never painted before, but I did not hear any of them say, “I can’t paint.” Maybe because their instructor was using only his teeth?
We now have 25 new artists in this world all because I overcame my fear. Why don’t you and I take on something new today? Life can get mundane and boring if we don’t put ourselves out there and try something new. Let’s get moving, we were created to create!
To your inspiration,
Ron
This is Ron with your Motivational Message:
How much is that kitty in the window? The one with mouth-painted fur.
I must admit that I am an animal lover. Growing up, my mom nearly had a zoo at times: llamas, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, roosters, ducks, turkeys, you name it. My favorite animal has always been a dog. I’ve owned a number of pets, but my most cherished one was a dog named Prissy. When I was a squeaky-voiced 13 year old, she was my best friend. I had rescued her from a friend’s house. I rode home with Prissy in a paper bag swinging from my handlebars. Just me and my new pet. Of course I hadn’t bothered to ask permission; it was one of those “don’t ask, apologize later” situation.
Prissy and I bonded the very first day. She followed me everywhere. We had adventures on the river, bicycle trips through the country, hikes in the forest. We were always together and whenever I wasn’t in sight she was a nervous wreck.
There came a day when I had been feeling down and was anxious to see her. As I jumped off the bus, I knew my dog would be there to pick up my spirits, but she was nowhere to be found. My heart dropped into my stomach. I frantically searched everywhere for her and for the next two days I felt my world had collapsed. I couldn’t eat or sleep—my best friend was gone. On the third day I found her lying in the grass, soaking wet and too weak to move. Something was very wrong. I scooped her up and screamed at the top of my lungs for help. When my mother came outside she could see the desperation on my face and drove me to the veterinarian hospital. Prissy had been poisoned by raw salmon a neighbor used to fertilize their garden.
Tears rolled down my cheeks as I stared into Prissy’s eyes. “Don’t die. You can’t die. You’ll be okay.” As she looked back into my eyes, it was as if she was thanking me for all the memories. I squeezed her against me and told her for the last time that I loved her. Her breathing became rapid and I felt her body go limp. I began to sob uncontrollably; I had never felt such pain. I truly felt as though I was going to die.
I removed the collar that I had made for her from around her neck. For the next few days I carried it around in mourning. Prissy had taught me so much in her short time on this earth. Through her I learned responsibility, selflessness, love, and consideration for another life. I came to understand that life is much more fun if we share it with another living being.
I have cared for many animals since her, but she will always be my favorite. That being said, why am I painting a cat?
The answer is that I am not the only one who loves animals. My little girl, much like her grandmother and father, has a tender heart with much love to give. She also has a favorite animal and you guessed it—it’s a cat. Her name is Dash. I see myself with Prissy every time I see Gracie with Dash. However, all of the love I have for pets cannot be compared to the love I have for my two girls. It is a bond greater than any.
A thought for the day: there’s more than just you to love out there. So what is your excuse?
To your inspiration,
Ron
If you cannot see the video, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uy0voWz1-FA